Joel 3:7-8

7, 8. Indeed, these enemies deserve punishment; and “with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you.” All they have done will be recompensed to them according to the lex talionis. Behold, I will raise them [“stir them up”] Better, I am about to stir up. The event is imminent (compare Joel 2:19).

Them The children of Judah and Jerusalem; they will be roused into activity in their place of exile, and will be brought home (Joel 3:1); there under the blessing of Jehovah the Jews will become strong and powerful, and by means of them Jehovah will do unto the Tyrians, Sidonians, and Philistines as they have done unto Judah and Jerusalem sell them into slavery.

Sons and daughters Not children, but citizens of the countries (Hosea 2:2). Sabeans [“men of Sheba”] A celebrated commercial nation in southwest Arabia; well known from the descriptions of ancient geographers, and more recently from the inscriptions found in the district itself. They traded not only in the products of their own land, but also in those of India and Ethiopia (Genesis 10:7; Genesis 10:28; Gen 25:3 ; 1 Kings 10:2; 1 Kings 10:10).

A people [“nation”] far off The Jews had been sold into the far west (Joel 3:6); their enemies are to be sold to the far southeast. LXX. reads, “into exile”; which presupposes only a slight change in the Hebrew text and is favored by some as the original reading. The prophet assures the nations that the prediction will surely be fulfilled.

For Jehovah hath spoken it A common formula of asseveration in the Old Testament (Isaiah 1:20; Isaiah 22:25; Obadiah 1:18).